Napkin



Aug. 27, 1968 L. FRIED ET AL 3,398,439

NAPKIN Filed April 17, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, r1968 1 FRIED ET Ax. 3,398,439v

v NAPKIN Filed April 17, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /l lll/f Jam J frz'ed ATTORNEYS United States Patent Op 3,398,439 v NAPKIN Y Louis Fried, 280 Prospect, Hackensack, NJ. 07601, and l Alan J. Fried, 1359 Sussex Road, Teaneck, NJ. 07666 Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,441 1,0 Claims. (Cl. 24-7) ABsTRACr on THE DISCLOSURE A napkin is provided with adhesive means on one face thereof defining a pressure-sensitive surface for attachment to the clothing of a user. In a first form of the invention, the adhesive means may comprise a piece of tape having apressure-sensitive surface on both sides thereof, one side being adhered to the face of the napkin. In'a second form of the invention, the adhesive means may comprise an area of the napkin having a pressuresensitive adhesive thereon. Covering means is provided over the pressure-sensitive surface in the form of a separate piece of material having a non-adhesive outer surface facing away from the pressure-sensitive face on the napkin. This separate piece of material has a iirst elongated slit extending from one side edge thereof and terminating short of the opposite side edge thereof and being formed parallel with a third side edge thereof. A second slit of substantially less length intersects the first slit so that a portion of the covering means can be peeled away from the pressure-sensitive surface on the napkin to expose the pressure-sensitive surface while inhibiting complete removal of the covering means. Ina further modified form of the invention, the covering means is provided with a pair of spaced parallel slits each of which extends substantially parallel with and in spaced relationship to a pair of opposite side edges of the covering means, these slits extending from Va third side edge of the covering means to a point spaced from a fourth side edge of the covering means. -r

Background of the invention The present invention relates to `a napkin particularly of paper or the like including means forA adhering the napkin to the clothing of a user to hold the napkin in place.

When employing paper napkins, it isvespecially important to provide a means for holding the napkin in place, and a preferable Way to accomplish this is to provide a pressure-sensitive surface on `the napkin. However, it is also important that some means be provided for preventing this pressure-sensitive surface from adhering to other portions of the napkins when it is in a folded condition or from adhering to adjacent napkins when they are stacked one upon another. In other words, means should be provided for preventing the pressure-sensitive surface from adhering to adjacent objects until it is desired to use the napkin.

In U.S. Patent No. 2,009,831, an arrangement is shown wherein an adhesive substance is provided on the face of a napkin, and a covering means is disposed over the napkin. This covering means has a non-adhesive outer surface to protect the adhesive portion untilI the napkin is used.

The diiiiculty with the arrangement as shown in the aforementioned U.S. patent is the fact that the covering means is designed to be completely removed when it is Summary of the invention The present invention provides an arrangement wherein covering means is provided over a pressure-sensitive surface on the face of a napkin. The covering means is of such a construction as to permit movement of a portion thereof so as to expose the pressure-sensitive surface, and at the same time to inhibit complete removal of thecovering means.

Accordingly, when it is desired to use the napkin of the present invention, a portion of the covering means is moved so that the pressure-sensitive surface can be pressed into place on the clothing of a user to hold the napkin in place. At the same time, the covering means remains attached to a portion of the pressure-sensitive surface so that the covering means does not become a litter item, but is held in place relative to the napkin. This covering means will be hidden from view when the napkin Yis placed in operative position thereby presenting a neat appearance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel napkin including means to adhere the napkin to the clothing of a user and including means for covering the adhesive means employed for adhering the napkin, this covering means including a portion for ready movement to expose the pressure-sensitive surface and to prevent complete removal of the covering means so that it does not become a litter item.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. l is a view illustrating the napkin of the present invention in operative position adhered to the clothing of a user;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a corner of a napkin illustrating the construction of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view on a slightly enlarged scale of the structure shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which a portion of the covering means is moved to expose the underlying pressure-sensitive surface on the napkin;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6 6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a corner of a napkin illustrating a further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 8 8 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective exploded view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the lstructure shown in FIG. 7 and illustrating the manner in which a portion of the covering means is moved to expose the underlying pressure-sensitive surface on the napkin.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a napkin is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIG. l and a corner portion 12 thereof has la means indicated generally by reference numeral 14 disposed on the underside thereof as seen in this ligure for adhering the napkin to the tie 16 of a user. It is apparent that the napkin'may be applied to any portion of the clothing of the user as desired.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-4 inclusive, the means 14 firstly comprises an adhesive means which in this form of the invention comprises a comercially available type of pressure-sensitive tape having pressure-sensitive surfaces 22 and 24 on opposite sides thereof. As seen in FIG. 3, the undersurface 22 of the tape is adhesively secured to the upwardly facing surface of the napkin 10, while the upper surface 24 comprises a pressure-sensitive surface adapted to be ahered to an article of clothing.

A covering means indicated generally by reference numeral 30 is provided, the undersurface 32 of member 30 being adapted to overlie and being adhered to the upper surface 24 to tape 20. The upper surface 24 of the covering means is of a non-adhesive nature so as not to adhere to any adjacent portions of the napkin with which it may come in contact. Member 30 -may be formed of any suitable material such as paper or the like which may be adhered to the pressure-sensitive surface 24 and which presents an outwardly facing non-adhesive surface. Covering means 30 is preferably at least as large as the underlying pressure-sensitive surface and possibly even slightly greater in extent than the pressure-sensitive surface to positively prevent any portion of the pressure-sensitive surface from adhering to an adjacent napkin surface.'The lowermost portion of the covering means as seen in FIG. 2 actually extends beyond the lowermost extent of the pressure-sensitive surface as indicated by dotted line 38 to provide a portion of the covering means extending beyond line 38 as seen in FIG. 2 which can be manually grasped for lifting a part of the covering means as hereinafter described.

The covering means is provided with four side edges 40, 42, 44 and 46. A first elongated slit S0 is cut completely through the thickness of the covering means and extends from side edge 40 to a point spaced from the opposite side edge 44. Slit 50 extends substantially parallel with and spaced from the side edge 42.

A second slit 52 cut through the material of the covering means extends substantially parallel with side edge 44 of the covering means and intersects the end of slit 50. It will be noted that the length of slit 52 is substantially less than that of slit 50.

When it is desired to employ the napkin, the lower left-hand portion of the covering means as seen in FIG. 2, or in other words that portion of the covering means below the line 38 and to the left of slit 50 is grasped and then pulled upwardly so as to peel back a portion of the covering means into the position shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that slit 50 permits the peeled-up portion to be readily move-d into such position, and slit 52 will arrest o-r inhibit further upward movement of the peeled-up portion. That is to say, the material of the covering means will not tend to tear further along the line of slit 50 once it reaches the intersecting slit 52. Acordingly, the covering means will -be moved into the position shown in FIG. 4 and there being inhibited from further movement.

When the covering means has reached the position shown in FIG. 4, it is apparent that the remaining portions of the covering means which have not Abeen peeledup and which overlie the pressure-sensitive surface 24 will still be adhered thereto. The peeled-up portion may then be folded downwardly in an upward and left direction as seen in FIG. 4 so that the pressure-sensitive surface Z4 will be readily accessible for pressing up against a portion of the clothing of a user.

With this arrangement, the napkin can be readily adhered to a portion of the users clothing, while the covering means remains attached to the napkin. In this manner, the covering means effectively serves its intended function and does not become a litter item.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6 of the drawings, 'a modification of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention, a napkin 60 is provided, and the covering means 62 is identical in every respect with the covering means 30 previously described, and accordingly no further descriptionv thereof is considered necessary.

The only difference in this form of the invention is the manner in which the pressure-sensitive surface is pro- 4 vided. In this modification, a body of pressure-sensitive adhesive substance 64 is applied to the surface of the napkin in any suitable manner' as by being sprayedI` on or daubed on with a suitable means. Accordingly, the'napkin is provided with an area on the surface thereof defining a pressure-sensitive surface, the covering means being disposed in overlying relationship thereto.

As seen in FIG. 5, the area of pressure-sensitive surface terminates along a line indicated by vdotted'line`66 so that the lower right-hand portion of the covering means as seen in PIG. 5 may be manually grasped to peel back a part of the covering means in the same manner as described previously. Y

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10 inclusive, a'still further modified form ofthe 'invention is'illustrated.- A napkin indicated generally by reference numeral v70 is provided with a corner portion 72. A pressure-sensitive adhesive area 74 is provided, this adhesive area being formed either of pressure-sensitive tape havingV pressure-sensitivefsurfaces on opposite sides thereof, or simply comprising a body of pressure-sensitive adhesive substance` which is sprayed or daubed onto the napkin.

A covering means indicated generally by reference numeral is provided, this covering means being formed of a material similar to that of the covering means previously described. The covering means is of such a dimension as to completely cover the pressure-sensitive iadhesive area, the covering means being adhesively secured to the pressure-sensitive substance along the undersurface thereof, while the upwardly facing surface of the coverin means presents a non-adhesive surface.

The covering means 80 is provided with a first pair of opposite side edges 82 and 84, and a further pair of opposite side edges 86 and 88. A pair of cut portions or slits 90 and 92 are formed through thecovering means, slit 90 extending from side edge 86 to a point spaced from side edge 88, and being disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the side edge 82. A

In a similar manner, the slit 92 extends from side edge 86 of the covering means to a point spaced from the side edge 88 thereof, slitv 92 being disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the side edge 84. It is of course apparent that the slits90 and 92 are disposed substantially p arallel with one another.- Y v The central portion of the covering means extends beyond the side edge 86 between the slits 90 and 92 to define a tab portion94 which of course also extends beyond the lower edge of the adhesive area as seenin FIG. 7, whereby the tab 94 can -be readily manually grasped for peeling back the central portion of the covering means.

When using the arrangement as shown in FIGS. 7-10 inclusive, the structure is originally in the operative relationship shown in FIG. 7. The tab 94 is then grasped to peel back the central portion of the covering means, and the central portion ofthe covering means will readily be moved into the position shown in FIG. l0 as it separates from the remaining portion of the covering means along the .slits 90 and 92.

When the central portion of the covering means reaches the position shown in FIG. l0, wherein the central portion of the covering means has been peeled-np until the ends of slits 90 and 92 are reached, further movement of the central portion of the covering means Ywill be inhibited to thereby resist complete removal of the covering means from the pressure-sensitive adhesive area and .the napkin. The pressure-sensitive surface will -be readily accessible for pressing against a portion of the clothing of a user, and the napkin can be readily adhered in place while the covering means remains attached to the napkin.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel napkin including means for adhering the napkin to a portion of the clothing of a user. The napkin includes covering means overlying the pressure-sensitive surface thereof to normally prevent the pressure-sensitive surface from adhering to adjacent napkin portions, this covering means including a part which can be moved to expose the pressure-sensitive surface. The covering means also includes a construction so that complete removal of the covering means is inhibited, thereby preventing the covering means from becoming a litter item.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

We claim:

1. A napkin comprising body means formed of fiexible material, adhesive means supported by said body means and defining a pressure-sensitive surface for l.attachment to the clothing of a user, covering `means disposed over and covering said pressure-sensitive surface, said covering means having a non-adhesive outer surface facing away from said pressure-sensitive surface so that said pressure-sensitive surface will not adhere to another portion of the napkin when the napkin is in folded condition or to an adjacent napkin, and means permitting movement of a portion of said covering means to expose at least a portion of said pressure-sensitive surface `and inhibiting complete removal of said covering means so that the covering means does not become a litter item when using the napkin, said covering means comprising a piece of material separate from said body means, said means permitting movement of a portion of said covering means comprising a first cut portion extending through only a portion of said covering means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a second cut portion intersecting said first cut portion.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 `wherein each of said cut portions comprises a slit, said slits extending substantially normally to one another.

4. Apparatus as defined in clami 3 wherein the second slit is of substantially less length than said first slit.

5. Apparatus Aas defined in claim 4 wherein the first cut portion slit extends substantially parallel to and in spaced relation to one of the side edges of said separate piece of material.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first cut portion extends from one of said side edges to a point spaced from an opposite side edge and parallel with still a third side edge joining said first and secon-d-mentioned side edges, a second cut portion extending substantially parallel with said second side edge and intersecting said first cut portion at substantially right angles thereto, said second cut portion -being of substantially less length than said first cut portion.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means permitting movement of a portion of said covering means comprises a pair of spaced cut portions, each of said cut portions extending through only :a portion of said covering means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said cut portions comprises a slit, said slits extending substantially parallel with one another.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said covering means comprises a piece of material separate from said lbody means, said covering means having opposite side edges, each of said slits extending substantially parallel with an adjacent side edge and in spaced relationship thereto.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including third and fourth side edges, said slits each extending from said third side edge and terminating in spaced relationship to said fourth side edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,831 7/1935 Yerzley 24-7 2,03 0,135 2/ 1936 Carpenter.

2,081,095 5/1937 Mull 2li- 67.1 XR 2,803,574 8/ 1957 Payant 24--7 XR 2,902,734 9/ 1959 Walters 24-7 3,043,734 7/1962 Porter 24-67.1 XR 3,063,885 11/1962 Kieffer DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

